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Chey Tae-won and Roh So-young (Photo: Yonhap News Agency) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The first mediation session in the high-profile divorce case between Chey Tae-won and Roh So-young concluded in about one hour, with the court scheduling an additional hearing at a later date when both parties can attend.
The Seoul High Court’s Family Division 1 held the mediation session on May 13 at 10 a.m. but ended proceedings around 11 a.m. after both sides presented their positions. The court decided to arrange another session as soon as possible on a date when both Chey and Roh can be present.
Roh attended the hearing in person with her legal representatives, while Chey was represented only by his legal team.
The dispute centers on the division of assets following the couple’s divorce. Roh has argued that Chey’s shares in SK Inc. should be included in the marital property subject to division, citing significant gains in value. Chey, however, maintains that the shares constitute inherited assets and should be excluded.
In the initial ruling in December 2022, the court ordered Chey to pay KRW 100 million in alimony and KRW 66.5 billion in asset division. The appellate court significantly increased the amount, awarding KRW 2 billion in alimony and KRW 1.3808 trillion in asset division, reversing the lower court’s decision by including SK shares in the division.
The appellate court also recognized contributions linked to former President Roh Tae-woo as indirectly benefiting SK Group’s growth and thus attributable to Roh So-young.
However, in October last year, the Supreme Court ruled that KRW 30 billion in slush funds associated with Roh Tae-woo were illegal and could not be considered in asset division, sending the case back for retrial. The KRW 2 billion alimony ruling was upheld.
Last month, the appellate court referred the case to mediation, marking the start of efforts to reach a negotiated settlement between the two parties.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
